If you have been previously diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder that often is accompanied with snoring, it is important to know that this condition often runs in families. Although increased weight increases your chance of having obstructive sleep apnea, there’s a lot more involved than this and some people are very thin and have apnea.  There are hereditary attributes such as jaw structures, and other upper anatomy situations that makes one at higher risk for OSA. If you have been previously diagnosed and you are suffering from apnea, or even getting it treated, please talk to your adult kids, parents, or siblings. They are all at high risk for developing sleep apnea as well, and you might want to share that knowledge with them. Thank you and today’s sleep tip is to openly discuss with those close in your family that they are high risk for having obstructive sleep apnea.

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois, a premiere snoring and apnea treatment center in Naperville has been providing the CPAP alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy for over 15 years successfully. Please call us if you have any questions 630.369.5508.

The topic at the latest NTSB (National Transportation and Safety Board) annual conference was about the relationship between fatigue and accidents.

The NTSB has investigated accidents for decades now and they have identified fatigue as the cause or a contributing factor in every mode of transportation.

The lack of recuperative sleep affects your decision-making process, along with judgment, memory and reaction time.  When you do not get enough sleep, you are much more likely to have uncontrollable cognitive lapses or microsleeps which may allow you to doze off for a very short period.  Tragically, this is a critically dangerous environment for train operators, ship, and airplane or highway vehicles.  Just a few seconds can mean the difference between life and death.  A good night sleep is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for a trip, operate a vehicle, or simple errands.

Unfortunately, people do drive drowsy.  If you recognize you are drowsy while driving, pull over, take a nap, and get some fresh air and a cup of coffee.  Do not try to power through it because it could cost  your life and the life of other people on the road.  We lose 30,000 people a year in traffic accidents and some of those fatalities are associated with drowsy driving.  Getting behind the wheel of an automobile is one of the most dangerous places we can be.  Highway fatalities are the fourth leading cause of death in our country.

Everyone is at risk of fatigue.  People who do shift work with varying times and people with sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are even more at risk.  Last year one out of four pilots and train operators complained that their performance is affected at least one time a week from sleepiness.

Sleep apnea affects millions of people in the United States.  It not only affects the person with apnea, but also their bed partner and family.  Consequences are very serious, including the risk of stroke and heart attack. If you feel you may be at risk for a sleep disorder, talk to your primary care physician or go to our website for more information.

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois, a premiere snoring and apnea treatment center in Naperville has been providing the CPAP alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy for over 15 years successfully. We are extremely passionate in helping individuals that have been struggling with CPAP therapy in Naperville, Wheaton, Aurora, Bolingbrook and surrounding Chicago suburbs. For more information on this physician recommended treatment option, visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com or call us at (630)369-5508.